If you see “can’t use this content” on PS5, your console cannot verify your game license right now. You might also see “Can’t connect to the server to verify your license”, “You’re using this content on another console”, “To use this content, purchase it”, or error code CE-109258-5. Many times, the fix is a quick license refresh plus the right Console Sharing setting, especially for can’t use this content you’re using this content on another console ps5.
Start here (5 minutes):
- Check PSN status (licensing servers might be down).
- Restore licenses:
Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licenses. - Enable (or toggle) Console Sharing and Offline Play on the account that owns the game.
- Restart PS5, then try launching from the purchasing account.
Let’s delve into what causes the error that says:
“Can’t use this content. Can’t Connect to the server to verify your license. Wait a while, and then try again”.
We’ll also discuss how to fix it and whether restoring licenses on PS5 deletes all data.
Why Can’t You Use Content on PS5?
The “can’t use this content” PS5 message usually appears when your console cannot confirm your entitlement for a game, DLC, or subscription content. Common causes include a license sync problem, PSN service issues, playing on a user profile that did not purchase the game, Console Sharing and Offline Play being disabled (or enabled on a different PS5), or an expired PS Plus/subscription entitlement. It can also show up as CE-109258-5 when the console cannot reach licensing servers.
Purchasing a game on PlayStation Network automatically grants you access to licensing of the game.
The license verifies that you have permission to play the game. It prevents players from illegally playing downloaded games on the PlayStation Network.
If your PS5 cannot validate that license, you can see a lock icon on the game tile, or get blocked at launch until the console can check your account and entitlements again.
Learn more on license confirmations on the Playstation Support page.
Which “Can’t use this content” message are you seeing?
Each wording points to a slightly different fix order, so match your exact message first.
- “Can’t connect to the server to verify your license” or CE-109258-5: Check PSN status, restart PS5, then restore licenses.
- “You’re using this content on another console”: Enable (or toggle off then on) Console Sharing and Offline Play on the PS5 you want to use.
- “To use this content, purchase it”: Switch to the account that owns the game, verify PS Plus/subscription status if relevant, then restore licenses.
How to Fix the “Can’t Use This Content PS5” Error
Start with Restore Licenses and Console Sharing and Offline Play, they fix most lockouts fast.
Quick fixes (try in order):
- Check PSN status.
- Restore licenses.
- Enable Console Sharing and Offline Play (or toggle it off/on).
- Restart your PS5, then retry.
- Confirm you are on the purchasing account, and check PS Plus/subscription entitlement if the game came from a catalog.
- If only one title is affected, delete and re-download it, then confirm you installed the correct version.
Solution 1: Restore Licenses on PS5
Learning how to restore licenses is helpful when fixing the PS5 “can’t use this content” error.
Restoring licenses re-syncs your entitlements with PlayStation servers. It can close a running game during the refresh. It does not delete your saves, captures, or installed game files. On a large library, it can take a few minutes.
Here are the steps for restoring licenses on PS5:
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Step 1. Go to “Settings”.
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Step 2. Select “Users and Accounts”.
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Step 3. Scroll down and choose “Other”.
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Step 4. Choose “Restore Licenses”.
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Step 5. Select “Restore”.
The process often takes under a minute, but it can take longer if you have lots of content. You’ll see “Licenses Restored” when it’s done.
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Step 6. Choose “OK” to opt out of the page.
The PS5 error will clear if licenses are the problem. If it does not work the first time, try it again (up to 2 times), then move to Console Sharing and PSN status checks.
Discover more about When to Restore PlayStation Store Licenses.
Solution 2: Confirm Game Version Selection
Sometimes you have multiple editions installed (PS4 and PS5), or you are launching the wrong version for your entitlement. On the game tile, select ... (three dots) and choose Select Version, then pick the version you actually own. If only one version is listed, check for updates and retry.
These are the steps to confirm the game version on PS5:
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Step 1. Press the
Optionsbutton on the DualSense controller.Make sure the game where the PS5 error occurred is running.
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Step 2. Scroll over to “Information”.
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Step 3. Check “Version”.
All critical game information, such as last updates, size, parental controls, and download status, is displayed.
Learn how to Upgrade an Eligible PS4 Game to a Digital PS5 Version.
Solution 4: Disconnect and Reconnect to the Internet
If your PS5 cannot reach PSN to verify a license, you can get the “can’t connect to the server to verify your license” message or CE-109258-5. Start by checking PSN status (Solution 8). If PSN is up, restart your PS5, then power cycle your router by unplugging it for 60 seconds and plugging it back in.
If you still want to reset the connection on the console, these are the steps to disconnect and reconnect your PS5 to the internet:
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Step 1. Open “Settings”.
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Step 2. Choose “Network”.
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Step 3. Select “Settings”.
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Step 4. Open “Set Up Internet Connection”.
Choose the network you want to disconnect.
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Step 5. Press
Optionson DualSense. -
Step 6. Choose “Delete”.
Follow these steps to reconnect the internet on PS5:
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Step 1. Scroll down to “Network Found”.
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Step 2. Enter the password for the network you want to connect to.
Afterward, try relaunching the game to see if the PS5 “can’t use this content” error has cleared.
Discover How to Set Up a Wired or Wireless Internet Connection.
How do you fix “You’re using this content on another console” on PS5?
This message appears when your game sharing setup conflicts with where the license expects to be used. Only one PS5 at a time can have Console Sharing and Offline Play enabled for a given account. On the PS5 you want to use, sign into the account that owns the game, then go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play and select Enable.
If it is already enabled, try the toggle trick: disable it, restart the PS5, then enable it again. After that, restore licenses and retry the game.
How do you fix “To use this content, purchase it” on PS5?
This usually means you are on the wrong user profile, or the game came from PS Plus and the entitlement is no longer active. Switch to the account that bought or claimed the game, check that it appears in that account’s Game Library, then restore licenses. If it is a disc game, insert the same disc you used to install it.
How do you verify the game is owned by the right PSN account?
Open the game from the user that purchased it. If the game tile shows a padlock on other profiles, sign into the purchasing account and try launching it first. You can also check purchase history and subscriptions in your account management, then restore licenses on that same account.
Solution 3: Sign Out and Back in on PS5
Signing out and logging in again can help eliminate the “can’t use this content…” PS5 error message. Signing out of your account restarts it, thus removing the cause of the error.
Here are the steps to sign out and in of your PlayStation Network account on PS5:
Sign Out of Your PlayStation Account
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Step 1. Navigate to “Settings”.
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Step 2. Go to “Users and Accounts”.
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Step 3. Select “Other”.
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Step 4. Choose “Sign Out”.
Sign Back Into Your PlayStation Account
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Step 1. Go to “Settings”.
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Step 2. Choose “Users and Accounts.”
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Step 3. Select “Account”.
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Step 4. Enter your password.
Learn more about How to Sign In and Out of PS5.
Solution 5: Enable Console Sharing and Offline Play
The Game Sharing feature on PS5 allows you to share a game with the different profiles on your console. Turning on console sharing and offline play can help launch a game without licensing issues.
However, this has to happen on the console where you bought the game.
Follow these steps to enable console sharing on PS5:
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Step 1. Open “Settings”.
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Step 2. Go to “Users and Accounts”.
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Step 3. Select “Other”.
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Step 4. Choose “Console Sharing and Offline Play”.
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Step 5. Select “Enable”.
Ensure you download games from your main PlayStation Network account when console sharing is enabled. This way, all games are shared with other accounts on your PS5.
Find more about Game Sharing on the Playstation Support page
Solution 6: Restart Your PS5
You can power off and restart your PS5 from the controller or use the power button. This may help alleviate this PS5 error, as restarting the console can remove temporary bugs and glitches.
Here are the two methods to restart your PS5:
Method 1. Restart PS5 Using the Controller
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Step 1. Press the
PSbutton.This is located in the middle of the controller. Different options will be displayed at the bottom of the screen.
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Step 2. Scroll to the “Power” icon.
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Step 3. Choose “Restart PS5”.
Method 2. Restart PS5 Without the Controller
Warning! These steps will force-restart your PS5 so that you will lose all your unsaved data.
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Step 1. Press and hold the
Powerbutton on your console.Hold the button for a few seconds or until you hear a beep. This will force your console to shut down.
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Step 2. Tap the
Powerbutton on the console to turn it back on.
Solution 7: Power Cycle the PS5
A power cycle forces software and hardware to restart. This clears any issues that bring out this common error on your PS5. The technique completely shuts down your PS5 and recreates configurations.
Below are steps to power cycle your PS5:
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Step 1. Press and hold the
Powerbutton on the console.Do this for at least 10 seconds or until it beeps twice. The console should turn off completely.
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Step 2. Unplug the power cable.
You can locate the power plug at the back of your console.
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Step 3. Wait for 15-20 minutes.
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Step 4. Plug back the power cable.
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Step 5. Turn the PS5 back on.
You can do this through the
Powerbutton on your console. Or, press thePSNbutton on your controller.
Solution 8: Check PSN Server Status
Sometimes, the PlayStation Network may be experiencing some issues, thus causing the “can’t use this content” PS5 error.
These are the steps to check if the PSN server is down:
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Step 1. Go to “Settings”.
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Step 2. Choose “Network”.
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Step 3. Open “Connection Status”.
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Step 4. Select “View PlayStation Network Status”.
Another approach is to visit the official PSN Service Status page. Sony regularly updates this page to inform PlayStation users whether the network is experiencing problems or is up and running.
What if the game is from PS Plus or a subscription?
If you claimed the game through PS Plus, you need an active membership to keep playing it. For games from a subscription catalog, access can end if your plan expires or the title leaves the catalog. Restoring licenses helps with syncing, but it cannot override an expired or removed entitlement.
When should you contact PlayStation Support?
Contact PlayStation Support if PSN status is green, you are on the purchasing account, and you already tried Restore Licenses plus Console Sharing and Offline Play, but the game is still locked. Prepare your PSN ID, the game title, the exact message or error code (like CE-109258-5), and a purchase receipt or transaction details.
FAQ
Can you play a game-locked PS5 title offline?
Yes, but only if the purchasing account has Console Sharing and Offline Play enabled on that PS5 and the license was already validated. If the game needs an online check-in, or PSN licensing is down, you may still be locked until verification works again.
Can two PS5 consoles use the same digital game at the same time?
No. Digital licenses are tied to account rules and Console Sharing limits. One PS5 can have Console Sharing and Offline Play enabled for an account, and the owning account can play elsewhere while online, but simultaneous use often triggers license conflicts and the “using on another console” message.
Why does my game have a padlock icon on PS5?
A padlock means the PS5 cannot confirm your entitlement right now. It is usually fixed by restoring licenses, enabling Console Sharing and Offline Play on the purchasing account, or signing back into PSN. If PSN services are degraded, waiting 15 to 60 minutes can also help.
What does error code CE-109258-5 mean on PS5?
CE-109258-5 is tied to license verification and server communication. It often appears when PSN services are having issues, your connection is unstable, or your console needs a license refresh. Check PSN status first, then restore licenses and retry after restarting your PS5.
Does Restoring Licenses on PS5 Delete Everything on PS5?
No, restoring licenses on PS5 doesn’t delete or affect your data. Instead, your library game information syncs with PlayStation Network server information and troubleshoots any issues with your digital games. Sony recommends restoring licenses to deal with in-game problems and performance.
Restoring licenses can help with the “can’t use this content” PS5 error. It also helps with other issues within a game or the console itself.
The “Can’t Use This Content” PS5 Error Is Easily Fixable
There are several approaches to fix the “can’t use this content” PS5 error. You can try to restore licenses, confirm game selections, or reconnect to the internet.
Alternatively, try to enable console sharing or sign out and back into your account. Resetting, power cycling, and restarting your PS5 can also work.
Follow PlayStation’s social media handles to stay current with any scheduled outages. Remember to contact customer support if you need help with the methods.
